These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Judgment and Hope

66 This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,and the earth is my footstool.Where is the house you will build for me?Where will my resting place be?2 Has not my hand made all these things,and so they came into being?”declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:those who are humble and contrite in spirit,and who tremble at my word.3 But whoever sacrifices a bullis like one who kills a person,and whoever offers a lambis like one who breaks a dog’s neck;whoever makes a grain offeringis like one who presents pig’s blood,and whoever burns memorial incenseis like one who worships an idol.They have chosen their own ways,and they delight in their abominations;4 so I also will choose harsh treatment for themand will bring on them what they dread.For when I called, no one answered,when I spoke, no one listened.They did evil in my sightand chose what displeases me.”

Job

12 Then Job replied:

2 “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,and wisdom will die with you!3 But I have a mind as well as you;I am not inferior to you.Who does not know all these things?

4 “I have become a laughingstock to my friends,though I called on God and he answered—a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!5 Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortuneas the fate of those whose feet are slipping.6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,and those who provoke God are secure—those God has in his hand.[a]

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,or let the fish in the sea inform you.9 Which of all these does not knowthat the hand of the Lord has done this?10 In his hand is the life of every creatureand the breath of all mankind.11 Does not the ear test wordsas the tongue tastes food?12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?Does not long life bring understanding?

13 “To God belong wisdom and power;counsel and understanding are his.14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;those he imprisons cannot be released.15 If he holds back the waters, there is drought;if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.16 To him belong strength and insight;both deceived and deceiver are his.17 He leads rulers away strippedand makes fools of judges.18 He takes off the shackles put on by kingsand ties a loincloth[b] around their waist.19 He leads priests away strippedand overthrows officials long established.20 He silences the lips of trusted advisersand takes away the discernment of elders.21 He pours contempt on noblesand disarms the mighty.22 He reveals the deep things of darknessand brings utter darkness into the light.23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;he enlarges nations, and disperses them.24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;he makes them wander in a trackless waste.25 They grope in darkness with no light;he makes them stagger like drunkards.

Lamentations 3New International Version (NIV)

3 [a]I am the man who has seen afflictionby the rod of the Lord’s wrath.2 He has driven me away and made me walkin darkness rather than light;3 indeed, he has turned his hand against meagain and again, all day long.

4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow oldand has broken my bones.5 He has besieged me and surrounded mewith bitterness and hardship.6 He has made me dwell in darknesslike those long dead.

7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;he has weighed me down with chains.8 Even when I call out or cry for help,he shuts out my prayer.9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone;he has made my paths crooked.

10 Like a bear lying in wait,like a lion in hiding,11 he dragged me from the path and mangled meand left me without help.12 He drew his bowand made me the target for his arrows.

13 He pierced my heartwith arrows from his quiver.14 I became the laughingstock of all my people;they mock me in song all day long.15 He has filled me with bitter herbsand given me gall to drink.

16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;he has trampled me in the dust.17 I have been deprived of peace;I have forgotten what prosperity is.18 So I say, “My splendor is goneand all that I had hoped from the Lord.”

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,the bitterness and the gall.20 I well remember them,and my soul is downcast within me.21 Yet this I call to mindand therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.23 They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him;26 it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.27 It is good for a man to bear the yokewhile he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,for the Lord has laid it on him.29 Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope.30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,and let him be filled with disgrace.

31 For no one is cast offby the Lord forever.32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,so great is his unfailing love.33 For he does not willingly bring afflictionor grief to anyone.

34 To crush underfootall prisoners in the land,35 to deny people their rightsbefore the Most High,36 to deprive them of justice—would not the Lord see such things?

37 Who can speak and have it happenif the Lord has not decreed it?38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most Highthat both calamities and good things come?39 Why should the living complainwhen punished for their sins?

40 Let us examine our ways and test them,and let us return to the Lord.41 Let us lift up our hearts and our handsto God in heaven, and say:42 “We have sinned and rebelledand you have not forgiven.

43 “You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us;you have slain without pity.44 You have covered yourself with a cloudso that no prayer can get through.45 You have made us scum and refuseamong the nations.

46 “All our enemies have opened their mouthswide against us.47 We have suffered terror and pitfalls,ruin and destruction.”48 Streams of tears flow from my eyesbecause my people are destroyed.

49 My eyes will flow unceasingly,without relief,50 until the Lord looks downfrom heaven and sees.51 What I see brings grief to my soulbecause of all the women of my city.

52 Those who were my enemies without causehunted me like a bird.53 They tried to end my life in a pitand threw stones at me;54 the waters closed over my head,and I thought I was about to perish.

55 I called on your name, Lord,from the depths of the pit.56 You heard my plea: “Do not close your earsto my cry for relief.”57 You came near when I called you,and you said, “Do not fear.”

58 You, Lord, took up my case;you redeemed my life.59 Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me.Uphold my cause!60 You have seen the depth of their vengeance,all their plots against me.

61 Lord, you have heard their insults,all their plots against me—62 what my enemies whisper and mutteragainst me all day long.63 Look at them! Sitting or standing,they mock me in their songs.

64 Pay them back what they deserve, Lord,for what their hands have done.65 Put a veil over their hearts,and may your curse be on them!66 Pursue them in anger and destroy themfrom under the heavens of the Lord.